Land to the rear of THE STREET BARN, The Street, Great Hallingbury, Essex, CM22 7TR

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

• the effect of the proposed development on protected species
• whether the appeal site is a suitable location for development with specific regard to the spatial strategy, access to services and public transport, and the use of previously developed land

What decided it

The failure to provide required ecological surveys for protected species, combined with the site's unsuitability under the spatial strategy and lack of sustainable access to services, means the adverse impacts significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of a single dwelling.

The significant harms relating to protected species and breach of spatial strategy policy, assessed against the limited benefits of a single dwelling and associated economic benefits, significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework taken as a whole, such that the presumption in favour of sustainable development does not apply.